The "proven" origins of Richard Knight of Rhode Island are unknown
to me.

Early settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire were from Norfolk, England
and that may be an indication of his origins. However, McCormick-Hamilton-Lord-Day
Ancestral Lines, compiled for Elizabeth Day McCormick & Robert Hall
McCormick III, privately printed, 1957, suggests Richard came from Kent
Co., England. This is apparently based on the origins of other settlers
of Greenwich, Rhode Island.

Born: Perhaps by 1620, some say
earlier, perhaps in Norfolk, England, as that was where many early settlers
of Hampton, New Hampshire were from. He was married and had at least one
child before 1640. (1640-25 years = 1615). Since he was given land for
service in King Philips War, it would appear he wasn't born much earlier
than 1620, as even that date would place him as 55 years old during that
conflict.

Immigration: By Aug 4, 1640. Probably
arrived by himself, although we know he had a wife, with unknown name,
who may have died before he migrated, and a son in England. Aged from 20-40
years old.

Spouses:

1) Unknown first wife in England, never migrated. Married before
1640. One son in England referred to in will.

2) Sarah Rogers, married 1648, in Kent Co, Rhode Island. She was
born before 1630 and died 1685, having survived Richard by 5 years.

Residences: Hampton, New Hampshire by 1640
> Rhode Island by 1646

"On Aug 4, 1640, an agreement was made between the town of Hampton
and Richard Knight regarding his building and keeping a mill at the landing
there, and 100 acres were granted to him. On Sep 14, 1640 he contracted
to build a meeting house. On Jan 29, 1640/1, it was voted that instead
of working on the Common Richard Knight was to make a gate for the pound.
He was the defendant in a suit brought by Stephen Kent in December, 1641.
On Jul 9, 1645, a warrant for his arrest was issued to the constables of
Boston, Mass., on account of certain thieving activities of his, and on
Sep 9, 1645, Joseph Armetage was ordered by the Court to hold all the goods
in his hands of Richard Knight "late of Hampton, now of Rhode Island."
(Essex Quarterly Court Files, Vol 1, Pg 88, and History of Hampton.)
" NEHGR, Jul 1933, Pg 264-5, article by G. Andrew Moriarity

Occupation: Carpenter, builder

Military: He appears to
have rendered service to the Colony in King Philip's War, for on Oct 31,
1677, he was one of the grantees of the East Greenwich lands, for service
in that war. Each grantee received 100 acres.

Death: October, 1680 in Newport, Kent
Co, Rhode Island.

Estate / Will:

Will of Richard Knight, Feb 1648:

Newport the 8th day of February 1648 . . . I Richard
Knight of Newport doe inverce and ingage to my wife Sarah
Knight that I will not sell . . . any of the Tract of Land latly
bought of James Rogers and Robert Griffin but doe. . . Intaile it upon
her and my heires forever, but Especialy to her and my Eldist: sonn if
any and in case wee have no sonn to my Eldist daughter to be my and her
proper he ire after my death and if a sonn he shall have it at The age
of oile and Twenty yeares if I have left my beinge in this life, and if
noe sonn then the Eldist daughter shall have it at Sixteene yeares of age
provided alwaies that the thirds of the Land and the best and convenientest
roome in the house is to be my wifes, duringe her life, and then to returne
to the heire . . . But if there be more then one Sonn the daughters
are noe heires soe long as any of the male be liveinge, but if noe sonn
or sonns or if the sonn or sonns die with Ishue, then the Eldist daughter
then livinge shall be the Right heire, But this is more Largely declared
that if the Eldist sonn dye without Ishue the next shall enjoy it, But
if the first have children whether sonns or daughters and alsoe the rest
that are herein appointed to be heires, And this have I done the day and
yeare above written, to avoyd strife because my sonn
in ole England shall have nothing to doe herein nor have any Right
to any Land of mine in New-England. In testimony hereof I put to my hand
this day and yeare aforesaid.

Signed in the presence off John Downeing (his X marke) Robert Spink
X his mark Richard Knight

Related Links:

The
Glenn Knight Page at one time contained lot of descendants of Richard
and Sarah (Rogers) Knight. The webmaster has taken down this database.
I'm leaving this link, as the home page is still there, in hopes the database
will return.

The William
Knight Page is an overall page dedicated to the Knight surname, with
information about his Knight lines. His Names
Index Page lists the Knights in his line. (The Richard Knight there
is not ours.)